Christology 1 (Exposition of John 1)

MEN’S BREAKFAST

• This Saturday morning, 7:30 AM• Guest Speaker: Harrell Riley,

HR Ministries, Princeton KY

BIBLE BASICSBIBLE BASICS

(A Study in Systematic Theology)(A Study in Systematic Theology)

CHRISTOLOGYCHRISTOLOGY

(The Study of Jesus Christ)(The Study of Jesus Christ)

CHRISTOLOGYCHRISTOLOGY(The Study of Jesus Christ)(The Study of Jesus Christ)

CHRISTOLOGYCHRISTOLOGY(The Study of Jesus Christ)(The Study of Jesus Christ)

His His PersonPerson(The (The ontological ontological dimension)dimension)

(Who He (Who He isis))

His His PersonPerson(The (The ontological ontological dimension)dimension)

(Who He (Who He isis))

His His WorkWork(The (The functionalfunctional dimension) dimension)

(What He (What He doesdoes))

His His WorkWork(The (The functionalfunctional dimension) dimension)

(What He (What He doesdoes))

The The PersonPerson of Christof Christ

Full DeityFull Deity Full HumanityFull Humanity

(Two Natures / One Personality)(Two Natures / One Personality)

Hypostatic UnionHypostatic Union(Two natures / one person)(Two natures / one person)

Hypostatic UnionHypostatic Union(Two natures / one person)(Two natures / one person)

Q: How much of Jesus Christ is Q: How much of Jesus Christ is GodGod??A: 100%A: 100%Q: How much of Jesus Christ is Q: How much of Jesus Christ is manman??A: 100%A: 100%

The The WorkWork of Christ of Christ

SinlessSinless Life Life Vicarious Vicarious DeathDeath(substitutionary)(substitutionary)

Bodily ResurrectionBodily Resurrection

A A VERYVERY Brief History of Brief History of Christology . . .Christology . . .

. . . Tracing the . . . Tracing the development of the development of the teaching of the teaching of the hypostatic union . . hypostatic union . .

Christology in the Church CouncilsChristology in the Church Councils(the development of the doctrine of the hypostatic union)(the development of the doctrine of the hypostatic union)

ERROR AGAINST ERROR AGAINST DEITYDEITY

CHURCH POSITIONCHURCH POSITION ERROR AGAINST ERROR AGAINST HUMANITYHUMANITY

Arius—Christ is a Arius—Christ is a created beingcreated being

Nicea, 325 AD—Christ Nicea, 325 AD—Christ is eternal and truly Godis eternal and truly God

Constantinople, 381—Constantinople, 381—full manhood of Christ full manhood of Christ is affirmedis affirmed

Apollinarius—dominant Apollinarius—dominant logos over the logos over the humanityhumanity

Nestorius—Christ is Nestorius—Christ is two natures in a two natures in a mechanical unionmechanical union

Ephesus, 431—unity of Ephesus, 431—unity of Christ’s personality is Christ’s personality is affirmedaffirmed

Chalcedon, 451—Chalcedon, 451—orthodox Christology orthodox Christology established: two established: two natures in one personnatures in one person

Eutyches—divine Eutyches—divine nature swallows up the nature swallows up the human naturehuman nature

The Definition of Chalcedon The Definition of Chalcedon (451 AD)(451 AD)

““Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man . . . one and the same truly God and truly man . . . one and the same Christ . . . recognized in two natures, without Christ . . . recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union . . .”being in no way annulled by the union . . .”

The Westminster Confession of Faith The Westminster Confession of Faith (1643-1646)(1643-1646)

““The Son of God, the second Person in the The Son of God, the second Person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal with the Father, did, when substance, and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties man’s nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin . . . so that the two whole, perfect and distinct sin . . . so that the two whole, perfect and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God and very man, yet one Which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.”man.”

. . .Time for a Gary . . .Time for a Gary Larson slide . . .Larson slide . . .

Four Great Christological Four Great Christological Passages:Passages:

1.1. John 1:1-18; 8:58; 14:6John 1:1-18; 8:58; 14:6

2.2. Philippians 2:5-11Philippians 2:5-11

3.3. Colossians 1:13-20; 2:9-10Colossians 1:13-20; 2:9-10

4.4. Hebrews 1:1-3; 5-14; 2:5-18Hebrews 1:1-3; 5-14; 2:5-18

John 1:1-18John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

The The pre-existencepre-existence of Christ of Christ

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

God’s agent in creation

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

He is He is lifelife (spiritual life) (spiritual life)

He is He is lightlight (John 8:12) (John 8:12)

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John the Baptist, the forerunnerJohn the Baptist, the forerunner

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

The Jews (His own) did not receive Him.The Jews (His own) did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Salvation is not automatic: receive, believeSalvation is not automatic: receive, believeChildren of God a privilege.Children of God a privilege.Not by blood (family), nor of the will of Not by blood (family), nor of the will of

flesh (works), but of God (grace).flesh (works), but of God (grace).

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

““Dwelt” or, “Pitched His tent.” Like God’s Dwelt” or, “Pitched His tent.” Like God’s presence in the OT tabernacle.presence in the OT tabernacle.

““only begotten” means “unique.”only begotten” means “unique.”

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Verse 15 from NEB, “Before I was born, He already Verse 15 from NEB, “Before I was born, He already was.”was.”

““grace for grace” like, “wave after wave of His grace”grace for grace” like, “wave after wave of His grace”

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

““declared” is “exegesis”: to unfold through declared” is “exegesis”: to unfold through teaching: to “draw out.”teaching: to “draw out.”

Christ “brought God out” and made Him Christ “brought God out” and made Him understandable to us.understandable to us.

John 14:9.John 14:9.

A Concluding Illustration of Our A Concluding Illustration of Our Being Identified with ChristBeing Identified with Christ

““But since my Savior stands between,But since my Savior stands between,

Who shed His precious blood,Who shed His precious blood,

‘‘Tis He, instead of me is seen,Tis He, instead of me is seen,

When I approach to God.”When I approach to God.”

––John Newton (1725-1807) John Newton (1725-1807)